After the 2013 NFL Draft,
Elliot Harrison updates his Power Rankings, with plenty of teams moving up and down the board.
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So far, so good. Owner Bob McNair said in February that the team's best linebacker was "ahead of schedule" in his rehabilitation. Now, head coach Gary Kubiak says Cushing is "champing at the bit" to get back on the field.

The Texans will continue to exercise caution with Cushing's knee throughout the offseason, but he's on track to participate in training camp. He will be nine months removed from surgery by early August. Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson needed just eight months of rehabilitation before the start of his historic 2012 season.

Texans defensive coordinator Wade Phillips desperately needs his defensive leader back at full strength this season. Phillips' defense fell off sharply when Cushing went down, surrendering 25-plus points in five of the last 11 games after not allowing it to happen once in the first five.